One of former South African President Jacob Zuma’s daughters pleaded not guilty to terrorism-related charges as her trial kicked off in Durban on Monday.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla stands accused of inciting violence through social media posts during the deadly July 2021 riots that erupted following her father’s arrest.
The 43-year-old faces charges of incitement to commit terrorism and public violence, stemming from one of the most destructive episodes in post-apartheid South Africa.
The week-long unrest, concentrated in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, left more than 300 people dead and caused an estimated $2.8 billion in damage.
The violence was triggered by Zuma’s imprisonment for contempt of court after refusing to testify before a commission investigating corruption during his presidency.
Prosecutors allege that Zuma-Sambudla’s online commentary helped fuel the chaos, which saw widespread looting, arson and disruption of supply chains.
Her defence team has dismissed the charges as politically motivated, arguing that the state’s case lacks substance.
She has maintained that the prosecution is part of a broader campaign to target her family, particularly her father who launched a rival political party, Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), after falling out with the ruling African National Congress.
Zuma-Sambudla is a senior member of MK party.
JN/APA